The spread of Aedes albopictus in the islands of Sao Tome and Principe

Abstract

The mosquito Aedes albopictus is a vector species of Dengue, yellow fever, and Zika among other diseases. The species originated in Southeast Asia and has spread widely and rapidly in the last century. The species has been reported in localities from the Gulf of Guinea since the early 2000s, but systematic sampling has been scant. We sampled Ae. albopictus between 2013 and 2023 across the altitudinal gradient in Sao Tome and found that the species was present in all sampled years at altitudes up to 680 meters. We also find some evidence of increases in proportional representation compared to Ae. aegypti over time. We report the presence of the species in Principe for the first time, suggesting that the range of Ae. albopictus is larger than previously thought. Finally, we use bioclimatic niche modeling to infer the potential range of Ae. albopictus and infer that the species has the potential to spread across a large portion of Sao Tome and Principe. Our results suggest that Ae. albopictus has established itself as a resident species of the islands of the Gulf of Guinea and should be incorporated into the list of potential vectors that need to be surveyed and controlled.